Workers at Dublin Bus have begun the first of their six planned stoppages this morning after all services were suspended for 48 hours last night.
All staff at the company have begun industrial action in a bid to force through a significant pay rise that will see them receiving similar pay and entitlements as the city’s Luas drivers.
The strike which was due to begin at midnight was moved forward to 9pm last night in order to have all buses back in the its depots by 12am.
Meanwhile the Transport Minister Shane Ross has revealed he has had no formal request to meet with union members, but he confirmed he would be willing to do so.
However, Mr Ross issued a stark warning to union members saying that the Government will not be solving the dispute for them. Mr Ross explained: “The only way that the strike can be sorted is that the two sides get together across the table again and discuss a settlement. The Government is not going to be a soft touch for either management or unions and people shouldn’t think that it will be.”